Carnegie Medal:
Congratulations to Neil Gaiman, who has won the Carnegie Medal with
The Graveyard Book. The Guardian notes in their
column of Thursday, June 24: He is “the first author ever to win the Carnegie and the Newbery medals with the same book.” Quite an accomplishment!
For more information on England’s top award for children’s literature, visit their home page,
http://www.carnegiegreenaway.org.uk/home/index.php.
You can watch his acceptance speech, if you wish, it contains some great quotes:
http://www.carnegiegreenaway.org.uk/2010awards/media_ceremony.php?file=1.
I just finished
Rikers High by Paul Volponi. Martin (17), was accused of ‘steering,’ telling a police officer where to buy marijuana. He has been waiting for his court date for five months, a long time due to some unusual circumstances. While he waits, he does his best to avoid conflict and ends up going to school on the island. The author has reworked his adult novel
Rikers, into this book aimed at teen readers. Volponi taught for six years on Rikers Island and much of what is in this book actually happened, though the reader does not know which of the events are true.
(The Nebraska Library Commission receives free copies of children’s and young adult books for review from a number of publishers. After review, the books are distributed free to Nebraska school and public libraries.)
